Prairie Pup Adventures at Plains Conservation Center
Prairie Pup Adventures at the Plains Conservation Center offers a fun way for preschool aged children to learn about the animals, plants and people who call the prairie home. Each week we will investigate a topic using hands on science, art and nature explorations. For children ages 3-6 with their accompanying caregiver.
Time: 9-10a.m.
December 3, 2024: Seasons of Change
What do you do when it gets cold? Plants and animals have amazing adaptations to survive the Colorado winter. Learn who hibernates, migrates and adapts as the seasons change through games and crafts.
December 17, 2024: Reptiles
From snakes to turtles, meet some of our reptile friends and learn what makes them different from other animals. Explore skeletons, scales and more, create your own springy snake craft and bond with some live animals. This class involves live snakes, lizards and turtles.
January 7, 2025: Plants and Potions
Plants have been used for centuries to make art, medicine, food and so many other things. Discover the magic of plants by making your own concoctions and take home a variety of plant powered creations.
January 21, 2025: Building Prairie Shelters
Do you like to build things? Let's work on those engineering skills while exploring how Native Americans and homesteaders built their homes in the 1800s. Build model shelters, create your own edible house and finish with a ride to the tipi camp and sod village to compare structures.
February 11, 2025: Fantastic Fungi
Fungi are fascinating living things. Explore the fungal world by learning the fungi lifecycle, looking at different specimens, dissecting mushrooms and making spore prints. You can even taste some fungal foods if you'd like!
February 25, 2025: Cooking in the 1800s
Do you like to help in the kitchen? Join us in the 1800s sod village to cook on a wood burning stove! Mix, measure, bake and churn to make tasty old fashioned treats. Menu: fruit and oat muffins, fresh butter and molasses cookies. Ingredients contain gluten, dairy and eggs.
March 11, 2025: Food Webs
Food webs are important aspects in every ecosystem around the world. Come learn terms like carniovore, herbivore, food chain and more while playing games, making artwork and roleplaying as different animals.
March 25, 2025: Prairie Safari
Take a safari ride across the plains to explore the difference between shortgrass and riparian ecosystems. Learn how to use scientific tools like magnifying glasses, binoculars and microscopes while looking for signs of wildlife.
April 8, 2025: Sod Homestead
Time travel back to 1887 on the prairie and explore replica sod houses, blacksmith shop and a one-room schoolhouse. Put on 1800s costumes, play with old fashioned toys, do chores and write with blackberry ink.
April 22, 2025: Gardening 101
Take a wagon ride to the sod village garden and help it grow! Get your hands in the soil to plant herbs and vegetables, remove weeds and learn what plants need so they can thrive. This garden produces food for local food banks and education programs! Come back later in the season to see how your plants are doing.
May 6, 2025: Biomes of the World
Deserts and forests and tundras oh my! Learn about the different biomes around the world through crafts and games, and then create your very own biome diarama to take home.
May 27, 2025: Cheyenne Native Americans
Venture to the tipis to learn about the Cheyenne tribe and how they lived for centuries off the natural resources of the prairie. Examine artifacts, listen to Native American stories, play traditional games and taste dried berries and bison jerky to explore the amazing culture and history of the Cheyenne people.
Audience: Recommended for children ages 3-6 years.
Program Fee: $8 per preschooler; one adult per child is admitted free of charge. Additional adults and non-participating siblings (children over the age of 6 years) are $5 each. Non-participating-Infants (children under the age of 18 months) are free.
Location: Plains Conservation Center, 21901 E Hampden Ave Aurora, CO 80013 (Entrance is at the corner of E Hampden Ave and S Picadilly Rd)